LeSean McCoy hasn't missed a single start over the past two seasons. Having just turned 27 years of age, he is in the prime of his career and shouldn't be concerned about physical decline for another season or two. Of course, any player can get injured at any time and McCoy is set to be exposed to a lot of punishment this season. Behind an underwhelming offensive line in an offense that wants to rely on him as a bell-cow back, McCoy is going to take a lot of heavy hits this year. Without quality quarterback play, the running back position in Buffalo is going to be relied upon regardless of who is and isn't heatlhy. With that in mind, it's important to know who is in position to assume McCoy's touches if he is sidelined.
BUY
RB Fred Jackson - It's incredible that Fred Jackson is still even in the NFL at 34 years of age. He and Frank Gore have disproved doubters so often that it'd be foolish to question either player simply based on the number of years they've existed on this earth. Jackson struggled to be productive running the ball last season but that was largely because of the offensive line he was running behind. He still showed his quality when you combined his carries with his receptions, helping him gain over 1,000 yards in total yardage. If McCoy goes down, Jackson won't assume all of his touches, but he should be in line for the majority of them. Even if McCoy doesn't go down, Jackson should still be prominently involved in the offense as a complementary/short-yardage back.
HOLD
WR Percy Harvin - In a world where the Buffalo Bills have issues at quarterback and are without their top running back, Percy Harvin's versatility becomes more valuable. The wide receiver/running back(/cornerback?) spoke during the offseason about returning to a more traditional wide receiver role, but that seems unlikely in the Bills offense. Without McCoy, Harvin would be a very appealing option as a runner. As he has shown in previous years, he only needs a couple of touches to be productive. Harvin is unlikely to be a regular in your starting lineup with McCoy on the field, but he could be brought off the bench if the offense is forced to rely on more gadget plays to gain yardage.
WR Sammy Watkins - If you've drafted Watkins, you're already looking past his awful situation. McCoy's departure can't make his situation any worse because Watkins is being limited by his quarterbacks rather than the quality of the running game. It likely won't his fantasy projection any better either, but it could add a handful of opportunities on screen passes or quick throws underneath to put the ball in his hands in space.
TE Charles Clay - There isn't much reason for optimism with Charles Clay in Buffalo. Clinging to the Delanie Walker comparison under offensive coordinator Greg Roman feels uncomfortable considering the caliber of pass catchers around Clay in Buffalo. Clay is a talented receiver, but he's not the kind of tight end who can elevate his quarterback with great ball skills or separation ability. He works well with the ball in his hands, but not as well as Harvin or Watkins. As such, he is going to have muted production this year regardless of where McCoy is. He will still be a rosterable tight end, so there won't be any reason to drop him in this scenario.
WR Robert Woods - Much like with Clay, Woods is likely to be a limited fantasy option this year simply because of the glut of options the Bills passing game has. He is too talented a player not to make the most of the targets that go his way, but if those targets aren't consistent he won't be able to produce on a weekly basis. Woods should be a bench option or bye-filler for your roster regardless of McCoy's situation.
SELL
None
ADD
RB Karlos Williams - Between Anthony Dixon, Bryce Brown and Karlos Williams, it's the rookie who appears most likely to carve out a role in McCoy's absence. Brown has always been a highly thought of talent, but he is on the roster bubble and has been unimpressive early on during training camp. Dixon is a more reliable player who showed well last season, but lacks the physical talent of Williams. The rookie has impressed onlookers in camp with his sheer size and ability as a one-cut runner. He doesn't hesitate, allowing him to get the most out of his size and power. The Bills coaching staff are obviously high on Williams because he came out of the draft with character issues that turned some teams away.
DROP
None
